Cargo area extension device

ABSTRACT

A cargo area extender is provided that consists of a top panel, a bottom panel and two side panels. When the tailgate of a truck or SUV is opened, hinged pins in the side panels pull the side panels into channels on the bottom panel. Once the tailgate is lowered, the top panel, which is adjacent to the bottom panel and connected to the bottom panel with hinges, is rotated upward and outward around the hinges. A latch on the bottom panel is then deployed to extend and lock the side panels into an open position. The top panel is closed to form a temporary tailgate. A handle on the top panel latches the top panel to the cargo area extender sliding side panels and the cargo area extender is fully deployed.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The invention relates generally to a device that increases the usablecargo area of a cargo container and, more specifically, to a devicethat, when deployed, provides additional cargo space in a vehicle suchas a truck, sports utility vehicle, van, trailer or utility cart and,when not deployed, is stored in the vehicle with minimal lost cargospace.

2. Related Art

In recent years, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), vans and pickup truckshave become increasingly popular among United States consumers. Thesepassenger and work vehicles often provide more room for passengers thana standard passenger vehicle; and, in addition, provide users with anarea to store and carry a variety of cargo. SUVs, vans and pickup trucksthus combine the comfort of a passenger vehicle with the utility of atrailer or utility cart.

Many of these vehicles, as well as trailers and utility carts, have afixed-sized area in which to fit cargo. For example, a standard-sizedpickup truck is typically available with either a six-foot or aneight-foot cargo area, or “bed.” If an optional tool chest is installedinto the truck bed, the usable length of the truck bed may be reduced byas much as two feet. Although an eight-foot bed can carry a widervariety and greater quantity of goods than a six-foot bed, theadditional two feet makes the pickup truck longer and less maneuverable.A longer vehicle is also typically more difficult to park. A pickuptruck with a six-foot bed may be more practical in some situations, butthe length of the bed can be a problem if the driver desires to carrysomething longer than six feet, such as an eight-foot piece of lumber. Apickup truck, trailer or cart with an eight-foot bed will, in spite ofthe extra two feet, present similar problems when the intended cargo islonger than eight feet or the usable length of the bed has beenshortened by the installation of a tool chest.

Several methods have been developed to address this “eight-footboard/six-foot bed” problem. One simple solution is to open a tailgate,if the vehicle has one, and let the cargo either rest upon the loweredtailgate or, if necessary, extend beyond the tailgate. There aredrawbacks to this solution. For example, in a SUV or van, an open reardoor or tailgate prevents an air conditioning unit from functioningproperly and may even allow exhaust fumes to enter the vehicle. In aSUV, van or pickup truck, a lowered tailgate can also obscure the viewof the rear tail and brake lights for vehicles that follow. Visibilityproblems and the possibility that loose cargo may simply slide out anopen tailgate present safety issues that may give rise to liability andlegal problems in the event of an accident.

Recently, a truck bed extender has appeared on the market that consistsof a U-shaped, metal and fiberglass gate of an open fence design. Thisgate fastens to the rear of a truck's cargo area at the ends of the ‘U’and extends into the bed when not in use. When a user desires to extendthe cargo area, the user lowers the tailgate, pivots the gate over andoutward around the ends of the ‘U’, and rests the gate upon the loweredtailgate. Although this approach may address the long cargo issue, itdoes not necessarily address all the safety issues and, in fact, maycreate other problems, e.g., the possibility that narrow objects canslide through openings in the gate and, when the gate is not in use, thegate occupies space in the cargo area that can be used for otherpurposes. The U-shaped gate may be removable, thus eliminating someproblems, but a gate that must be removed and reinstalled between usesis not as convenient as a permanently installed gate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cargo area extender is provided that increase the cargo area of asports utility vehicle (SUV), pickup truck, van, trailer or utilitycart. For example, the cargo area extender can convert a six-foot pickuptruck bed into an eight-foot bed. In a SUV or van, the cargo area can beconverted into a temporary pickup bed-like storage area without havingto fold or remove seats.

The cargo area extender consists of four panels: a top panel, a bottompanel and two side panels. Each side panel includes an inner side paneland an outer side panel. The bottom panel may be built as part of atailgate. In a truck or an SUV, when the tailgate is opened, hinged pinsin the inner side panels pull the inner side panels into channels on thebottom panel. The channels are flanged to ensure proper alignment withthe inner side panels. The side panels can also be telescoping to makethe cargo area extender more compact, thus conserving space.

In a van, the flanges are unnecessary because the channels can extendinto fixed side panels, which can be built into or installed in the vanand provide a framework in which the moveable side panels can both slideand be stored. In this configuration, the cargo area extender is mountedso that the entire unit rolls out in a fashion similar to a cabinetdrawer.

Once the tailgate is lowered, or, in a van, the cargo area extender hasbeen slid out from the fixed side panels, the top panel, which isadjacent to the bottom panel and connected to the bottom panel withhinges, is rotated upward and outward around the hinges. A mechanism onthe bottom panel is then deployed to extend and lock the side panelsinto an open position. A handle on the top panel latches the top panel,which now functions as a temporary tailgate, to the cargo area extendersliding side panels and the cargo area extender is thus fully deployed.In vans and SUVs, the top panel tailgate can also be designed so that itcan latch to the vehicle's rear door.

The advantages of the cargo area extender are numerous and include thefollowing attributes:

(1) Adaptable: The same design can be used for trucks, SUVs, vans,utility vehicles, and, with slight modifications, minivans.

(2) Compatible: Panels of the device can be designed to conform toindividual vehicle model styling and shape. For example, the side panelsof the device in SUVs and minivans can match the shape of the door andinclude a seal so that the cargo area extended area is weather proof.

(3) Versatile: The cargo area extender can be either installed by thevehicle manufacturer at the factory or sold as an after-marketaccessory.

(4) Compact: The top, bottom and side panels are narrow and occupylittle or none of a vehicle's original cargo space.

(5) Modular: Most parts of the cargo area extender are common regardlessof the size of a vehicle. Connecting rods have multiple pivot pointholes and sleeves to fit a variety of applications. Standard channelscan be manufactured separately and fitted into top and bottom panels ofdifferent sizes.

(6) Easy to Use: Device operation is straightforward; there are no partsto fold or hold in place while opening or closing the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention can be better understood with reference to the followingfigures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale,emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of theinvention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIGS. 1A-1F are diagrams showing various positions of the cargo areaextension device, including the relative positions of a bottom panel, atop panel, an inner side panel and an outer side panel with respect to apickup truck bed and tailgate.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams of the top and bottom panel in more detailand alternative positions for hinges connecting the top panel and thebottom panel.

FIGS. 3A-3C are diagrams of various views of an inner side panel frameand an outer side panel frame, which supports the inner side panelframe.

FIG. 3D is a diagram of an alternative inner side panel frame with adifferent connecting pin arrangement.

FIGS. 4A-4E are various views of an opening and latching mechanism ofthe inner side panel of FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are two views of the top panel of FIGS. 1 and 2 in moredetail.

FIGS. 6A-6C are various views of the bottom panel of FIGS. 1 and 2 inmore detail.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are two views of the connecting rods of FIGS. 4 and 6 inmore detail.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams of one embodiment of the present inventioneither installed or built into a sports utility vehicle (SUV).

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams of one embodiment of the present inventioneither installed or built into a minivan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Although described with particular reference to specific vehicles andtrailers, the following device is applicable to a number of othervehicles and trailers such as large trucks, vans and small utilitytrailers. The device of the claimed subject matter may be usedadvantageously in many cargo hauling and cargo storage devices tomaximize an available cargo area and/or minimize storage area needed forthe cargo device when the device is not in use.

Turning now to the figures, FIGS. 1A-F are diagrams showing variouspositions of the cargo area extension device 100, including the relativepositions of a bottom panel 101, a top panel 103, an inner side panel105 and an outer side panel 107 with respect to a pickup truck (notshown) cargo area, or “bed,” 109 and a tailgate 111 of the pickup truck.Although this example focuses on an embodiment of the inventioninstalled in the bed 109 of a pickup truck, the claimed subject matteris equally applicable to a sports utility vehicle (SUV), a van, aminivan, a cargo trailer or many other devices that either carry orstore cargo.

In FIG. 1A, the cargo area extender 100 is illustrated in a TailgateClosed position. In the Tailgate Closed position, the bottom panel 101fits against the tailgate 111 and the upper panel 103 fits against thebottom panel 101. In the Tailgate Closed position, the tailgate 111, thebottom panel 101 and the top panel 103 are positioned at a ninety degree(90°) angle with respect to the truck bed 109. It should be noted that,although the bottom panel 101 is illustrated here as a distinct piecefrom the tailgate 111, the bottom panel 101 and the tailgate 111 can beconstructed as a single piece such as when the cargo area extender 100is manufactured as part of the pickup truck's original equipment or as afactory option. In this example, the cargo area extender 100 is anafter-market device installed on the pickup truck. Thus, the bottompanel 101 is affixed to the inside of the tailgate 111. The bottom panel101 can be affixed to the tailgate 111 in any one of a number of ways,which should be apparent to those with skill in the mechanical arts. Theupper panel 103 is attached to the bottom panel 101 by means of the oneor more hinges 219 (see FIGS. 2A-B) and, in the closed position, fitssnuggly against the bottom panel 101 on the side opposite the tailgate111, or on the inside of the truck bed 109. Whenever the bottom panel101 and the top panel 103 are adjacent each other, as illustrated inFIGS. 1A-1C, a latch plunger 505 (see FIGS. 5A-B) operated by a latchmechanism 201 fits into a notch 213 (see FIGS. 2A-B), keeping the bottompanel 101 securely in place relative to the top panel 103. The hinges219 may be multiple hinges spaced at intervals between the top panel 103and the bottom panel 101 or, in the alternative, be a single long hingethat extends from one side to the other side of the panels 101 and 103.The description in the following examples is based upon an exemplaryembodiment with a single hinge 219.

In the Tailgate Closed position, the inner side panel 105 fits insidethe outer side panel 107 and is coupled to the bottom panel 101 by meansof a connecting rod 113. The inner side panel 105 and the outer sidepanel 107 are explained in more detail below in conjunction with FIGS.3A-3D. The connecting rod 113 is attached to a sleeve 701 (see FIGS.7A-B) at a fixture point 117 and attached to the inner side panel 105 ata fixture point 115. The connecting rod 113 is attached to the sleeve701 at the fixture point 117 by means of retainers 631 (see FIGS. 6B-C)and slides in a channel 626 (see FIGS. 6A-C) in the bottom panel 101.The connecting rod 113 is attached at the fixture point 115 in a mannerthat allows the connecting rod 113 to rotate with respect to the innerside panel 105.

In FIG. 1B, the cargo area extender 100 is illustrated in a positioncorresponding to a Tailgate Half (½) Open position. In this view, thetailgate 111 is rotated forty-five degrees (45°) outward from its closedposition. In a typical pickup truck, the tailgate 111 can rotate withrespect to the truck bed between the ninety degree (90°) position shownin FIG. 1A and an one hundred eighty (180°) position, at which point aflexible strap (not shown) prevents the tailgate 111 from rotatingfarther. As shown in FIG. 1B, because the connecting rod 113 is attachedto both the inner side panel 105 and the bottom panel 101 via the sleeve701, the motion of the tailgate 111 from the Tailgate Closed position ofFIG. 1A to the Half Open position pulls the inner side panel 105 outwardwith respect to the pickup bed 109 and the outer side panel 107, whichis fixed either within side walls of the pickup bed 109 (when installedas part of the original manufacturing process) or fixed to the innerside wall of the pickup bed 109 (when installed as an after-marketoption). In addition, the motion of the tailgate 111 causes theconnecting rod 113 to pull the inner side panel 105 into a channel, ortrack, in the bottom panel 101, ensuring that the inner side panel 105is properly aligned with the bottom panel 101. As mentioned above inconjunction with FIG. 1A, the connecting rod 113 rotates with respect tothe inner side panel 105.

In FIG. 1C, the cargo area extender 100 is illustrated in a TailgateOpen position corresponding to the tailgate 109 in a fully openposition. In the Tailgate Open position, the tailgate 109 forms a onehundred eighty degree (180°) angle with the pickup bed 109 and the toppanel 103 remains adjacent to the bottom panel 101 as in FIGS. 1A-B.

In FIG. 1D, the cargo area extender 100 is illustrated in a Top PanelOpen position. In this position, the tailgate 111 is rotated ninetydegrees (90°) from its closed position, as in FIG. 1C, or one hundredeighty degrees (180°) from the pickup bed 109. The latch mechanism 201(see FIGS. 2A-B) is operated and the latch plunger 505 (see FIGS. 5A-B)is retracted to release the top panel 103 from its locked position withrespect to the bottom panel 101. The top panel 103 is rotated around thehinge 219 two hundred seventy degrees (270°) with respect to the bottompanel 101 and tailgate 111.

In FIG. 1E, the cargo area extender 100 is illustrated in a Side PanelExtended position in which, in addition to the tail gate 111 and the toppanel 103 rotated as shown in FIG. 1D, the inner side panel 105 is movedrearward with respect to the outer side panel 107 and the side wall ofthe pickup bed 109 by means of an opening mechanism 401 (see FIGS. 4A-E,6A-C and 7A-B). The inner side panel 105 is guided along the channel 626by the connecting rod 113 connected to the lower panel 101 via thesleeve 701. The opening and latching mechanism 401 that moves and locksthe inner side panel 105 into the Side Panel Extended position isdescribed below in conjunction with FIGS. 4A-E, 6A-C and 7A-B.

In FIG. 1F, the cargo area extender 100 is illustrated in a Top PanelClosed position. In the Top Panel Closed position, the tailgate 111 andthe bottom panel 101 are both rotated one hundred eighty degrees (180°)with respect to the pickup bed 109 and the top panel is rotated back sothat is rotated ninety degrees (90°) with respect to the bottom panel101 and the tailgate 111. Thus, the top panel 103 serves as a tailgatethat is positioned rearward of the original tailgate 111 closed positionshown in FIG. 1A by approximately the length of the tailgate 111. Atthis point the inner side panel 105 and the top panel 103 are fastenedtogether by means of the latch mechanism 201, the connecting rod 501(see FIGS. 5A-B) and the latch plunger 505, each of which are describedin more detail below in conjunction with FIG. 2A, 2B, 5A and 5B. Thelatch plunger 505 is the same latch plunger used to secure the top panel103 to the bottom panel 101 as shown in FIGS. 1A-C.

For the sake of simplicity, the FIGS. 1A-F illustrate the cargo areaextender 100 from one side of the pickup truck only. It should be notedthat, on the other side of the truck bed 109, there is a second innerside panel and a second outer side panel. Like the inner side panel 105,the second side panel is also moved rearward by the movement of thetailgate 111 and the opening and latching mechanism 401 and alsofastened to the top panel 103 in the Top Panel Closed position of FIG.1F.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the bottom panel 101, the top panel 103 andalternative possible positions of hinges, such as a hinge 219, whichconnect the top panel 103 and the bottom panel 101. The latch mechanism201 is attached to the top panel 103 and the notch 213, positioned in atab 211, is in the bottom panel 101. There is also a tab 628 (see FIG.6B) which is similar to tab 211 but without a notch such as notch 213.The tabs 211 and 628 fit between the top panel 103 and the pickup truckbed 109 when the bottom panel 101 and the top panel 103 are in theTailgate Closed position of FIG. 1A. The top panel 103 has a notch 504(see FIG. 5A) to accommodate tabs 211 and 628. Tabs 211 and 628 arepositioned along the rear edge of side panel 105 in the Tailgate Closedposition of FIG. 1A and along the bottom edge of the side panel 105 inthe Tailgate Open position of FIG. 1C. The tabs 211 and 628 assure thatthe side panel 105 aligns with the channel 626 in the bottom panel 101.

In FIG. 2A, the hinge 219 is positioned at the bottom of a flange 203,which is an extension of an edge 202 of the top panel 103. The hinge 219is also positioned at the bottom of an edge 205 on the bottom panel 101.The bottom panel 101 fits against the top panel 103, i.e., the left sideof the edge 205 fits against the right side of the flange 203 and thetop side 209 of the bottom panel 101 fits against the bottom side 207 ofthe top panel 103. When fitted together, the relative positions of thetop panel 103 and the bottom panel 101 with respect to each othercorrespond to their relative positions shown in FIGS. 1A-C. With thehinge 219 in the position shown in FIG. 2A, the top panel 103 can rotatetwo hundred seventy degrees (270°) with respect to the bottom panel 101,as illustrated above in FIGS. 1D and 1E.

FIG. 2B illustrates an alternative placement position for the hinge 219.In this figure, the hinge 219 is positioned at the bottom of edge 202 ofthe top panel 103. With respect to the bottom panel 101, the hinge 219is positioned at the top edge of the edge 205. As in FIGS. 1A-1C and 2A,the bottom panel 101 and the top panel 103 fit against each other.However, in this particular positioning of the hinge 219, the top panel103 is only able to rotate one hundred eighty degrees (180°) withrespect to the bottom panel 101.

FIGS. 3A-C illustrate various views of an inner side panel frame 305 andan outer side panel frame 307, which provides support for the inner sidepanel frame 305. The inner side panel frame 305 is a support framewithin the inner side panel 105; i.e. the inner side panel frame 305 isthe inner side panel without metal (or other vehicle body panelmaterial) skin. The outer side panel frame 307 may or may not have askin. If the outer side panel frame does not include a skin, then theouter side panel 107 and the outer side panel frame 307 are the same.The outer side panel frame 307 may be integrated within the inner andouter walls of the pickup truck bed 109, in which case, a skin isunnecessary. The particular configuration may depend upon whether or notthe cargo area extender 100 is installed as a original equipment, afactory option or an after-market item. As explained above inconjunction with FIGS. 1A-F, second inner and outer side panels, andthus second inner and outer side panel frames, are positioned on theopposite side of the pickup bed 109 from the inner and outer side panelframes 305 and 307. The second inner and outer side panel frames aremirror images of the inner and other side panel frames 305 and 307,respectively, and therefore, for the sake of simplicity, are not shownseparately.

FIG. 3A illustrates a side view 303 and a front, or head-on, view 301(from the perspective of the “A—A” line in FIG. 3A) of the outer sidepanel frame 307. Two channels, a lower channel 309 and an upper channel311, are shown both head-on (view 301) and in profile (view 303). Thechannels 309 and 311 support the inner side panel frame 305 (see FIG.3C). A third, inverted channel 313 at the top of the outer side panelframe 307 acts as a mounting bracket for affixing the outer side frame307 to the pickup bed 109 and also for attaching a skin. The view 301shows the outer side panel frame 307 positioned within the inner sidewall 335 and the outer side wall 333 of the pickup bed 109.

FIG. 3B illustrates a side view 325 and a head-on view 323 (from theperspective of the “A—A” line in FIG. 3B) of the inner side panel frame305. Views 323 and 325 illustrate a reinforcement strip 321 that fitsagainst the inner side of the inner side panel frame 305. Thereinforcement strip 321 includes a latch hole 327 that fits over a notch329 in the inner side panel frame 305. Another reinforcement strip 322,without a latch hole, fits on the other, outer side of the inner sidepanel 305, directly across from the reinforcement strip 321. FIG. 3Balso illustrates a connecting rod pin point 115, shown in FIGS. 1A-1Fand described in more detail below in conjunction with FIG. 6B-C, andupper and lower rollers or bearings 315.

FIG. 3C is a side view of the inner side panel frame 305 and the outerside panel frame 307 mated together in a closed position, as the panels105 and 107 appear in FIG. 1A. The outer side panel frame 307 is fixedwith respect to the pickup bed 109 (FIG. 1), and the inner side panelframe 305 moves with respect to the outer side panel frame 307. Theouter side panel frame 307 includes the lower channel 309, in which theinner side panel frame 305 slides. The lower rollers, or bearings, 315in the bottom of the inner side panel frame 305 enable the inner sidepanel frame 305, and thus the inner side panel 105, to slide within thechannel 309 with little resistance. The outer side panel frame 307 alsoincludes the upper channel 311, which, like the lower channel 309,supports the inner side panel 105. The rollers or bearings 315 on thetop of the inner side panel frame 305 fit within the upper channel 311and also reduce the sliding resistance of the inner side panel 105. Aconnecting rod pin point 115 is positioned in the left lower corner ofthe inner side panel frame 305 (FIGS. 1A-F). The connecting rod pinpoint 115 provides a place for the connecting rod 113 (FIGS. 1A-F, to beconnected to the inner side panel 305 (FIGS. 3B-C).

FIG. 3D is a diagram of an alternative inner side panel frame 355, witha different connecting rod arrangement than the inner side panel frame305. In this example, the inner side panel frame 355 includes rollers orbearings 365, a notch 379 and a connecting rod pin point 367, allsimilar in function and description to the bearings 315, the notch 329and the connecting rod pin point 317, respectively. Also illustrated isa connecting rod 617, described in more detail below in conjunction withFIG. 6. This particular configuration of inner side panel frame 355 andconnecting rod pin point 367, with a bend 361 in the inner side panelframe 355, provides greater stability than the inner side panel frame305 and connecting rod pin point 317 when the inner side panel 355 ismoved either forward or backward, such as when the inner side panel 105is moved with respect to the outer side panel 107. In addition, theconfiguration of FIG. 3D also increases the initial backward motion ofthe inner side panel 355 when the cargo area extender (FIGS. 1A-1F) ischanged from the Tailgate Closed position (FIG. 1A) to the Tailgate Openposition (FIG. 1C).

FIGS. 4A-E illustrate various positions and views of a side panelopening and latching mechanism 401. As shown in FIG. 6A, the opening andlatching mechanism 401 is located in the center of the bottom panel 101.The opening and latching mechanism 401 may be either in a recess in thebottom panel 101 or attached directly to the pickup tailgate inner panelthrough an opening in the bottom panel 101. Two bars 411 connect to thefixture points 413 at one end and to a rod 415 at the other end. The rod415 is fastened to a U-shaped handle 405. The distance from theattachment point of the rod 415 to the open end of the U-shaped handle405 is approximately equal to one half (½) the length of the slot 419(FIG. 4C), plus clearance, and approximately two thirds (⅔) of thelength of the bar 411. A latch handle 403 is fastened to the closed endof the U-shaped handle 405. The latch handle 403, in a closed position(with respect to the inner side panel 105) illustrated in FIG. 4A, hooksaround a locking bar 407, which keeps the latch handle 403, the U-shapedhandle 405, the rod 415 and the bars 411 from moving unless a userpurposely operates them. The open ends of the U-shaped handle 405 haveholes through which two connecting rods 703 (see FIGS. 7A-B) arefastened. The inner side panel 105 is linked to the U-shaped handle 405via rod 703, rod 417, sleeve 701 and connecting rod 113 or 617 throughslots 419 and 629 respectively. Before the connecting rods 703 attach tothe ends of the U-shaped handle 405, the rods 703 pass through the slot419 in a rail 421 that is part of the bottom panel 101. The rail 421 maybe stamped into the bottom panel 101 or may be a separate piece attachedto the bottom panel 101. A second locking bar 409 is used to fasten thelatch handle 403, and thus the opening and latching mechanism 401, in anopen position (with respect to the inner side panel 105), in a fashionsimilar to the manner the locking bar 407 maintains the opening andlatching mechanism 401 in the closed position.

Although, in the disclosed embodiment, the opening and latchingmechanism 401 is held in the open and closed positions by hooking thelatch handle 403 around the locking bars 407 and 409 respectively, itshould be apparent to those with skill in the mechanical arts that thereare numerous alternatives that might serve this purpose. For example, aring and a clip or some type of latch and corresponding latch receptaclemay be employed to secure the open and latching mechanism 401 intovarious positions.

FIG. 4B illustrates a side view of the opening and latching mechanism401 from the perspective of an “A—A” line in FIG. 4A, looking from leftto right with respect to the orientation of the vehicle in which thecargo area extender 100 is installed. In FIG. 4B, the opening andlatching mechanism 401 is in the closed position and the bars 411 andthe U-shaped handle 405 are resting parallel to each other. The end ofthe rod 415, which passes through the end of the two bars 411 and theU-shaped handle, 405 is visible.

FIG. 4C illustrates a side view of the opening and latching mechanism401 from the same perspective as FIG. 4B, but with the opening andlatching mechanism 401 in an one quarter (¼) open position. In thisfigure, the U-shaped handle 405 is almost perpendicular to the bottompanel 101. The latch 403 affixed to the closed end of the U-shapedhandle pivots around the U-shaped handle 405. As the latch 403 is pulledupward from the bottom panel 101, the open end of the U-shaped handle405, and the attached connecting rods 703 are pushed through the slot419 towards the front of the pickup bed 109 (FIG. 1). As the U-shapedhandle 405 is pulled through an arc, initially upward and backward andthen backward and downward with respect to the bottom panel 101, themovement of the connecting rods 417, each of which is linked at theouter end to the inner side panel 105, cause the inner side panel 105 toslide along the outer side panel 107 and along channel 626 (see FIG.6A), backward with respect to the pickup bed 109.

FIG. 4D illustrates the opening and latching mechanism 401 from the sameperspective as the FIGS. 4B-C, but with the opening and latchingmechanism 401 in a three quarter (¾) open position. In this figure, asindicated by the fact that the latch 403 remains parallel to the rail421, it is evident that the latch 403 rotates about the U-shaped handle405. The open end of the U-shaped handle 405, which is linked to theinner side panel 105, has slid approximately three quarters (¾) of theway to the end of the slot 419, thus pushing the inner side panel 105farther rearward with respect to the pickup truck bed 109.

FIG. 4E illustrates the opening and latching mechanism 401 from above,the same perspective as in FIG. 4A. In this figure, the opening andlatching mechanism 401 is in a fully open position with the latch 403hooked around the bar 409 to secure the mechanism 401. Although notvisible from this perspective, the open end of the U-shaped handle 405is positioned to the far left in the slot 419 and the inner side panel105, which is linked to the open end of the U-shaped handle 405, isfully deployed as illustrated in FIGS. 1E and 1F.

FIGS. 5A-B illustrate the top panel 103 (FIG. 1) in more detail. In FIG.5A, the top panel includes the latch 201 (FIG. 2) and a connecting rod501, which is enclosed within the upper and lower walls of the top panel103. At the end of the connecting rod 501 is the latch plunger 505. Thelatch 201, the connecting rod 501 and the latch plunger 505 are similarto the latch, connecting rod and latch plunger mechanism found on atypical pickup truck tailgate, such as the tailgate 111 (FIG. 1). Likein a typical pickup truck tailgate, there is a second connecting rod(not shown) that extends from the latch 201 in the opposite direction ofthe connecting rod 501. At the bottom of the top panel 103, there arethe hinges 219 (FIGS. 2A-B), which, as explained above in conjunctionwith FIGS. 2A and 2B, provide a means for the top panel 103 to rotatewith respect to the bottom panel 101, either one hundred eighty degrees(180°) or two hundred seventy degrees (270°) depending upon where thehinges 219 are positioned.

FIG. 5B illustrates a portion of the top gate 103 at the end of theconnecting rod 501. Attached to the end of the connecting rod 501 is thelatch plunger 505. Of course, the second connecting rod also has a latchplunger (not shown) that performs a similar function as the latchplunger 505. When the cargo area extender 100 (FIG. 1) is in theTailgate Closed position (FIG. 1A), the latch plunger 505 fits into thenotch 213 in the tab 211 (FIG. 2) of the bottom panel 101, securing thetop panel 103 and the bottom panel 101 with respect to each other. Whenthe cargo area extender 100 is in the Top Panel Closed position (FIG.1F), the latch plunger 505 fits through the latch hole 327 in thereinforcement strip 321 and into the notch 329 of the inner side panelframe 305 (FIG. 3). In this manner, the top panel 103 is secured to theinner side panel 105 when the cargo area extender 100 is fully deployed.An outer edge 506 and an inner flange 507 of the top panel 103 form achannel 508. When the top panel 103 is in the Top Panel Closed position(FIG. 1F), the rear edge of the side panel 105 is seated in the channel508. The tab 509 is attached to flange 507 on the hinged side to the toppanel 103. The outer edge 506 and the tab 509 are both flared near thehinged side 202 of the top panel 103 to ensure the proper alignment ofchannel 508 and the rear edge of the side panel 105 when the top panel103 is rotated from the Open position (FIG. 1E) to the Closed position(FIG. 1F).

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate the bottom panel 101 in more detail, includingthe opening and latching mechanism 401 (FIG. 4). The opening andlatching mechanism 401 includes the latch 403, the U-shaped handle 405,the locking bar 407, the locking bar 409, the two bars 411 and the rod415, described above in conjunction with FIG. 4A. The mechanism 401moves the end of a connecting rod 703, causing the rod 417 to pivotaround a pivot point 619. The end of the connecting rod 417 not linkedto the U-shaped handle 405 via the connecting rod 703, or the “outerend,” is connected to the sleeve 701 (see FIGS. 7A-B). Connecting rod703, connecting rod 417 and sleeve 701 are internal to bottom panel 101and are located between the outer wall of bottom panel 101 and the innerwall of tailgate 111. The sleeve 701 extends between an inner wall 627and an outer wall 625 at the side of the bottom panel 101. The pivotpoint 619 is located approximately one third (⅓) of the distance fromthe end of the connecting rod 703 attached to the locking and latchinghandle 401 and the center of channel 626 formed by the inner wall 627and the outer wall 625 when the U-shaped handle 405 is positioned ninetydegrees (90°) to the bottom panel 101; i.e., when the mechanism 401 isin a one half open/one half closed position at the midpoint of itstravel. The location of the pivot point 619 causes the inner side panelframe 305 to move approximately twice as far and in the oppositedirection as the open ends of the U-shaped handle 405 when the openingand latching mechanism 401 is moved from a closed position to an openposition. This motion causes the inner side panel frame 305 to beextended from the outer side panel frame 307. In addition, when thelatch 403 is hooked around the locking bar 409, the inner side panelframe 305 (and the inner side panel 105 that it is part of) is securedin a locked and open position. The bottom panel 101 has a notch 624 toaccommodate the tab 509 on the top panel 103.

FIG. 6B illustrates a side view (from the perspective of the “A—A” linein FIG. 6A) of the outer portion of the connecting rod 417 and sleeve701, which include a connecting rod 113 (FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1E), which islocated in between the inner wall 627 and the outer wall 625. Theconnecting rod 113 is attached to the sleeve 701 at the pivot point 117(FIG. 1A). The connecting rod 113 attaches to the inner side panel frame305 and is secured by means of a pin (not shown) that fits through boththe connecting rod pin point 115 (FIGS. 1A-F and 3B-C) and a pin hole623 in the connecting rod 113.

FIG. 6C illustrates another side view (from the perspective of the “B—B”line in FIG. 6A) of the bottom panel 101 from a different perspective,showing the tab 211, notch 213 (FIGS. 2A-B), hinges 219 (FIGS. 2A-B),connecting rod 113, sleeve 701 and the pin hole 623. Also illustrated isthe inner wall 627, which, from this perspective, is unobscured by theouter wall 625. From this perspective, a slot 629 in the inner wall 627is visible. The slot 629 provides room for the sleeve 701 to slide whenthe opening and latching mechanism 401 is moved between the closed andopen positions.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate the connecting rod 417 (FIGS. 6A-C),connecting rod 703 and sleeve 701 in more detail. It should be notedthat if the side panel frame 355 (FIG. 3D) is used, then the connectingrod 617 (FIG. 3D) replaces connecting rod 113 as shown in FIGS. 6B and6C. In FIG. 7A, the pivot point 619 and the top of the connecting rod113 are visible as well as a connecting rod 703 and an outer sleeve 701.The outer sleeve 701 is able to slide but not rotate with respect to theconnecting rod 417. The connecting rod end of connecting rod 417 istubular to allow connecting rod 703 to both slide and rotate withrespect to the connecting rod 417.

FIG. 7B illustrates the connecting rod 417 from a slightly differentperspective. The outer sleeve 701, the connecting rod 703, theconnecting rod 113 and the pivot point 619 are all visible. In addition,the pin hole 623 in the connecting rod 113 is visible. From thisperspective, one can see that the connecting rod 703 is connected to theU-shaped handle 405 (FIGS. 4A, 4E and 6A). At the end of the connectingrod 417 that is attached to the U-shaped handle 405, the connecting rod703 slides to adjust for a change in length from the pivot point 619 andthe U-shaped handle 405 as the opening and latching mechanism 401 (FIG.6A) moves between the closed and open positions and from the open to theclosed positions. The connecting rod 703 is pinned to the open end ofthe U-shaped handle 405 in such a manner as to rotate about theconnecting rod's 703 axis and also to rotate in relation to the U-shapedhandle 405 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4E. At the end of the connecting rod417 that is linked to the inner side panel 105, the outer sleeve 701slides to adjust for the change in length from the pivot point 619 andthe connecting rod 113, but all necessary rotation is provided by theconnecting rod 113 rather than by the outer sleeve 701.

In this example, the sleeve 701 end of the connecting rod 417 isrectangular with the hollow rectangular sleeve 701 and the connectingrod 703 end of the connecting rod 417 is tubular with a round connectingrod 703. However, it should be apparent to those with skill in themechanical arts that there might be numerous alternatives that wouldserve this purpose. For example, connecting rod 417 may be a hollowrectangle and the sleeve 701 could be rectangular. Similarly, connectingrod 417 may be round and the connecting rod 703 may be tubular.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate the cargo area extender 100 (FIG. 1) employedin a SUV 801, which has a bed 811, a tailgate 809 and a rear door 803,which swings up. FIG. 8A illustrates the SUV with the rear door 803fully open, the tailgate 809 up and the cargo area extender 100 in aclosed, or stored position. In FIG. 8B, the tailgate 809 is in an openposition, the cargo area extender 100 is fully deployed with the innerside panel 105 extended and the rear door 803 swung down and connectedto the cargo area extender 100. The rear door 803 is attached to thecargo area extender 100 using an existing door latch 813 on the reardoor 803, which is attached to a corresponding latch mechanism 815 inthe top panel 103 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5) of the cargo area extender 100.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a cargo area extender employed in a minivan901, which has a bed 911, and a rear door 903, which swings up. FIG. 9Aillustrates the minivan cargo area extender in a closed position, andFIG. 9B illustrates the minivan cargo area extender in a deployedposition. Like the rear door 803 (FIGS. 8A-B), which attaches to the toppanel 103, the rear door 903 of the minivan latches to the top panel 103at a latch 915 in the top panel 103 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5) that correspondsto a standard latch 913 for the rear door 903 on the minivan 901. Theside panel 905 is shown with an additional section 907 to illustratethat while the side panel frames (FIGS. 3A-D) may be contained in the“X”ed area of side panel 905, any of the side panels shown throughoutFIGS. 1A-F, 3A-D, 8A-B and 9A-B may be manufactured in numerous sizesand shapes to enhance the functionality of the cargo area extender 100by coordinating the design of the cargo area extender 100 with thedesign of the vehicle on which it is intended to be used.

While various embodiments of the application have been described, itwill be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scopeof this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restrictedexcept in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

I claim:
 1. A cargo area extender for use in a vehicle, comprising: twoside panels, each comprising: an inner side panel frame; and an outerside panel frame, wherein the inner side panel frame is configured tomove horizontally in relation to the corresponding outer side panelframe between a stored position and an extended position; a bottompanel; comprising: a bottom panel frame; an opening and latchingmechanism, comprising: a U-shaped handle, coupled to the bottom panelframe at an open end of the U-shaped handle and configured to moveaxially with respect to the bottom panel frame about the open end; andtwo connecting rods, each coupled to the U-shaped handle on a first endand to different inner side panel frames on a second end, configured topivot about corresponding pivot points, located approximately one third(⅓) of the distance from the U-shaped handle and the end of each of theconnecting rods, the movement causing the corresponding inner side panelframes to move between the stored position and the extended position;and a top panel, coupled to the bottom panel with a plurality of hinges,wherein the top panel rotates with respect to the bottom panel aroundthe plurality of hinges, the top panel comprising: a latch mechanism;two latch connecting rods, each latch connecting rod connected to thelatch handle and extending in opposite directions from the latch handle;and two latch plungers, each latch plunger connected to a differentlatch connecting rod at an end of the latch connecting rod opposite anend of the latch connecting rod that is connected to the latch handle,wherein, each latch plunger projects into a corresponding notch in thebottom panel when the cargo area extender is in a closed position, thussecuring the top panel to the bottom panel, and each latch plungerprojects into a corresponding notch in a different one of the inner sidepanel frames when the inner side panel frames are in the extendedposition, thus securing the top panel to the inner side panels in acargo area extender deployed position.
 2. The cargo area extender ofclaim 1, each connecting rod comprising: a main body; an outer sleevecoupled to the main body; and an inner sleeve.
 3. The cargo areaextender of claim 1, the U-shaped handle further comprising: a latchcoupled to a closed end of the U-shaped handle and configured to pivotwith respect to the U-shaped handle; a first locking structure coupledto the bottom panel frame, which when attached to the latch, secures theinner side panels in the stored position; and a second locking structurecoupled to the bottom panel frame, which when attached to the latch,secures the inner side panels in the extended position.
 4. The cargoarea extender of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a pickup truck having acargo area in a bed of the pickup truck, the bottom panel is coupled toa tailgate and the outer side panel frames are coupled to opposing sidewalls of the pickup bed.
 5. The cargo area extender of claim 1, whereinthe vehicle is a sports utility vehicle (SUV) having a cargo area in arear storage area of a sports utility vehicle (SUV), the bottom panel iscoupled to a tailgate and the outer side panel frames are coupled toopposing side walls of the sports utility vehicle (SUV).
 6. The cargoarea extender of claim 5, wherein the cargo area is a storage area ofthe sports utility vehicle and the cargo area extender is mounted on acarriage within the sports utility vehicle.
 7. The cargo area extenderof claim 5, the top panel further comprising: a latch receptacle forsecuring a latch of a rear door of the sports utility vehicle (SUV) tothe top panel.
 8. The cargo area extender of claim 1, wherein thevehicle is a van having a cargo area in a rear storage area of the van,and the outer side panel frames are coupled to opposing side walls ofthe van.
 9. The cargo area extender of claim 8, wherein the cargo areais a storage area of the van and the cargo area extender is mounted on acarriage within the van.
 10. The cargo area extender of claim 8, the toppanel further comprising: a latch receptacle for securing a latch of arear door of the van to the top panel.
 11. The cargo area extender ofclaim 1, wherein the vehicle is a trailer having a cargo area.
 12. Thecargo area extender of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a utility vehiclehaving a cargo area.
 13. A cargo area extender configurable for use in avehicle having a cargo area, comprising: two side panels, each coupledto opposing sides of a cargo area, each side panel comprising: an outerside panel frame within the walls of the cargo area; and an inner sidepanel frame, wherein the inner side panel frame slides horizontally withrespect to the outer side panel frame between a stored position and anextended position; a bottom panel; comprising: an opening and latchingmechanism, comprising: a U-shaped handle, coupled to the bottom panelframe at an open end of the U-shaped handle and configured to moveaxially with respect to the bottom panel frame about the open end; andtwo connecting rods, each coupled to the U-shaped handle on a first endand to different inner side panel frames on a second end, configured topivot about corresponding pivot points, located approximately one third(⅓) of the distance from the U-shaped handle and the end of each of theconnecting rods, the movement causing the corresponding inner side panelframes to move between the stored position and the extended position;and a top panel, coupled to the bottom panel with a plurality of hinges,wherein the top panel rotates with respect to the bottom panel aroundthe plurality of hinges, the top panel comprising: a latch mechanism;two connecting rods, each connecting rod connected to the latch handleand extending in opposite directions from the latch handle; and twolatch plungers, each latch plunger connected to a different connectingrod at an end of the connecting rod opposite an end of the connectingrod that is connected to the latch handle, wherein, each latch plungerprojects into a corresponding notch in the bottom panel when the cargoarea extender is in a closed position, thus securing the top panel tothe bottom panel, and each latch plunger projects into a correspondingnotch in a different one of the inner side panel frames when the innerside panel frames are in the extended position, thus securing the toppanel to the inner side panels in a cargo area extender deployedposition.
 14. The cargo area extender of claim 13, each connecting rodcomprising: a main body; an outer sleeve coupled to the main body; andan inner sleeve.
 15. The cargo area extender of claim 13, the U-shapedhandle further comprising: a latch coupled to a closed end of theU-shaped handle and configured to pivot with respect to the U-shapedhandle; a first locking structure coupled to the bottom panel frame,which when attached to the latch, secures the inner side panels in thestored position; and a second locking structure coupled to the bottompanel frame, which when attached to the latch, secures the inner sidepanels in the extended position.
 16. The cargo area extender of claim13, wherein the vehicle is a pickup truck having a cargo area in a bedof the pickup truck, the bottom panel is a tailgate and the outer sidepanels are opposing side walls of the pickup bed.
 17. The cargo areaextender of claim 13, wherein the vehicle is a sports utility vehicle(SUV) having a cargo area in a rear storage area of the sports utilityvehicle (SUV), the bottom panel is a tailgate and the outer side panelsare side walls of the sports utility vehicle (SUV).
 18. The cargo areaextender of claim 17, wherein the cargo area is a storage area of thesports utility vehicle and the cargo area extender is mounted on acarriage within the sports utility vehicle.
 19. The cargo area extenderof claim 17, the top panel further comprising: a latch receptacle forsecuring a latch of a rear door of the sports utility vehicle (SUV) tothe top panel.
 20. The cargo area extender of claim 13, wherein thevehicle is a van having a cargo area in a rear storage area of the van,and the outer side panels are opposing side walls of the van.
 21. Thecargo area extender of claim 20, wherein the cargo area is a storagearea of the van and the cargo area extender is mounted on a carriagewithin the van.
 22. The cargo area extender of claim 20, the top panelfurther comprising: a latch receptacle for securing a latch of a reardoor of the van to the top panel.
 23. The cargo area extender of claim13, wherein the vehicle is a trailer having a cargo area.
 24. The cargoarea extender of claim 13, wherein the vehicle is a utility vehiclehaving a cargo area.